STUDY OF CHANGES IN THE COMPOSITION OF JA PANESE-QUAIL EXCREMENTS AT VARIOUS METHODS OF TREATMENT

Japanese quail is currently used as a convenient model organism for th e study of fowl physiology and as a promising farm animal. Expansion o f quail farms brings about higher production of excrements, which requ ires their effective disposal. Japanese quail is also to be used as a heterotrophic link of the closed ecosystem of space ships. This system will involve the cultivation of quail excrements by the larvae of hou se fly (Musca domestica L.), which will modify their basic physical pr operties. Changes in excrements composition were investigated with reg ard to dry matter, organic matters and total nitrogen depending upon t he method of processing. A macromineral profile of excrements was also determined (phosphorus, potassium, sodium). Droppings were produced b y adult Japanese quail kept in individual cages. We compared the quali ties of fresh excrements (within 24 hours after excretion), naturally dried excrements (a week in the place of quail raising), excrements dr ied in a drier (24 hours at a temperature of 105-degrees-C) and excrem ents before and after cultivation by the larvae of house fly. Natural and artificial drying of excrements (Tab. I) significantly (P < 0.01) increased dry matter content. The content of organic matters did not c hange. The decrease in nitrogen content in dry matter by 5.7 % in natu rally dried and by 14.6 % in artificially dried excrements was not sig nificant (P > 0.05). The highest loss of nitrogen was observed instant ly after excretion. Cultivation of excrements by the house fly larvae (Tab. II) contributed to a considerable increase in the portion of dry matter, by 54.9 % (P < 0.01) and to a decrease in the nitrogen portio n by 21.8 % (P < 0.05). The portion of organic matters decreased by 12 .5 %. In comparison with uncultivated excrements after artificial dryi ng (Tab. III) the dry matter content did not change in the cultivated excrements. The content of organic matters was approximately by 10 % l ower (P > 0.05), nitrogen content decreased by 30.7 % (P < 0.01). The increase in phosphorus, potassium arid sodium concentrations (Tab. IV) is likely to be due to the changes in the percentage (decrease) of or ganic matters and nitrogen. The results make it possible to say that a ll methods of excrements treatment increased dry matter content and re duced nitrogen content in dry matter. These differences were more cons picuous in cultivated excrements, in which the content of organic matt ers also decreased.